The mayors of both towns said the rate of growth reported by the 2000 U.S. Census is what they expected.
By: Al Wicklund
Growth in the Borough of Jamesburg and Monroe Township is going along as expected, the municipalities’ mayors said this week.
Both mayors said the growth numbers shown by the recently released Census 2000 are following predictable routes.
"There are no surprises," said Monroe Mayor Richard Pucci. "The township’s growth pattern is consistent with our plan."
Jamesburg Mayor Tony LaMantia said limited growth is a reasonable expectation in a borough that is now about 99 percent developed.
According to the census figures, Jamesburg’s population has grown by 603 in the last decade covered by the federal government’s every-10-year headcount. The borough grew from 5,294 people in 1990 to 5,897 last year.
Monroe’s count was 27,831 in 2000, 5,575 more than the 1990 census’ 22,256.
Jamesburg’s population went up by 11.4 percent, while Monroe’s increased by 25 percent.
By percentage, both towns are well behind the top growth communities in Middlesex County. Little Helmetta had the highest rate of growth, 49.4 percent, but was low in numbers with an increase of 598 persons from 1990 to 2000.
South Brunswick is second in the county in growth rate with a 43.3 percent increase, but far ahead in numbers with a population that grew by 11,165 from 1990 to 2000.
Mayor Pucci said the planned retirement communities have played an important role in balancing the Monroe Township growth.
"We compare ourselves with our neighbor South Brunswick Township. A major difference is in the numbers of children in the two communities," he said.
The Monroe mayor said that some 10 years ago, when South Brunswick’s total population was at 25,798 and Monroe’s 22,256, the school populations in both Monroe and South Brunswick were in the 2,000 2,500 range, but today South Brunswick has about 8,000 school children while Monroe’s school population is around 3,000.
Mayor Pucci said the retirement communities have provided the township with a stable tax base without the fiscal burden of a skyrocketing school population.
Mayor LaMantia said the lack of open areas has put a lid on his town’s growth.
"Basically, we are 99 percent built out. New town houses will represent the last significant construction on available residential areas in the borough," he said.
Jamesburg’s population, according to the census figures, breaks down to 4,990 classified as white, 532 black, 12 who are American Indians or Alaskan native, 134 Asian and 606 Hispanic.
The racial, ethnic figures for 2000 for Monroe Township are 26,127 white, 820 black, 16 American Indian and Alaskan native, 656 Asian and 666 Hispanic.